Can I stay home and watch my boyfriend.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Can I stay at home to watch my boyfriend with out a nurse degree? He has medical issues. He has a patch in the back of his head from a stroke he had a year ago. The doctor told him to sit down and do nothing. Is it possible to watch him with out having a degree (just making sure he don't get up and do things he's not suppose to do)? If so who would I contact? I currently live with him (and no I'm not trying to get out of going out and not finding work) I just really love him and don't want something bad to happen to him.

Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
I was wondering that too. I've never seen any of my stroke patients get patches on the back of their heads. I was thinking maybe it's something used in other sections of the country.

I was thinking more along the lines of a bald spot, or some sort of skin issue (like cradle cap or a strange wound with a dressing) vs. a medication patch, so now I'm even more confused.

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Specializes in Pedi.
I was thinking more along the lines of a bald spot, or some sort of skin issue (like cradle cap or a strange wound with a dressing) vs. a medication patch, so now I'm even more confused.

And I was thinking it was a craniectomy/missing bone flap. I have never heard of anyone describe anything as a "patch" on the back of one's head after a stroke or neurosurgery. And I worked in neurosurgery for 5 years and had neurosurgery myself.

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A client's mother I had one time was a CNA and her live-in boyfriend was graduating from nursing school. They planned on him going to work for an agency to take care of her homebound daughter and thought that they could get by with the ruse because he had a different surname, they were not married and therefore not legally relatives, and they were going to keep their mouths shut about the true relationship. It would have been interesting to see if they could get away with it, but I don't think that one happened. Agree with the others. This is a bad idea.

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Specializes in ER.
I was wondering that too. I've never seen any of my stroke patients get patches on the back of their heads. I was thinking maybe it's something used in other sections of the country.

Maybe she has one of those Real Dolls instead of a living BF.

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Specializes in CNA, LVN, RN.

In California, the boyfriend may qualify for In Home Supportive Services (contact a social worker since I don't know OP or the BFs situation). The state pays a caregiver (pretty much anyone that can pass a background check and DOES NOT need any medical training). You wouldn't be paid to watch him 24/7, but depending on his medical needs, you can get paid for #hours the state thinks he needs.

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Specializes in ICU, trauma.
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bone flap maybe?

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And I was thinking it was a craniectomy/missing bone flap. I have never heard of anyone describe anything as a "patch" on the back of one's head after a stroke or neurosurgery. And I worked in neurosurgery for 5 years and had neurosurgery myself.

That could be why he is maybe told to do nothing? Maybe he doesn't have a helmet? A year is just such a long time for a bone flap. And every bone flap I have ever seen has been on one side of the head or other. I've never seen one on the back. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

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This is a question for your boyfriend's doctor. If he needs daily supervision, ordered by that provider, they should guide you in the process. Sounds like he should be getting Medicaid. Medicaid may pay you, without official caregiver experience, to provide his daily care.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
He might not really be legally competent mentally.

If that is the case, then it would be up for a court to determine if he truly lacks that capacity. The family would have to pursue that. Until that happens, he's considered competent.

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Specializes in Pedi.
That could be why he is maybe told to do nothing? Maybe he doesn't have a helmet? A year is just such a long time for a bone flap. And every bone flap I have ever seen has been on one side of the head or other. I've never seen one on the back. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Someone with a craniectomy and missing bone flap I assume would have a helmet. And I agree, a year is a long time. When I worked in neurosurgery, most patients had their bone flaps replaced before they left the hospital because if they had something serious enough to warrant a craniectomy, it was a long hospitalization. The only one I can recall who went home without her bone flap was because of an infection that needed to be treated before it could be replaced. She went home with a helmet and it was replaced a few months later.

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Someone with a craniectomy and missing bone flap I assume would have a helmet. And I agree, a year is a long time. When I worked in neurosurgery, most patients had their bone flaps replaced before they left the hospital because if they had something serious enough to warrant a craniectomy, it was a long hospitalization. The only one I can recall who went home without her bone flap was because of an infection that needed to be treated before it could be replaced. She went home with a helmet and it was replaced a few months later.

Most of ours do too. I've seen a couple discharged to an LTACH but they were not allowed to leave without helmets.

This just seems like an odd story and somebody trying to scam the system. But then again, I don't know how things are done all around the country. I know how my hospital does things.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I'm still not sure I understand why OP is asking permission to stay home and "watch" her boyfriend. Two pages of speculations, but we really don't know the story. I wish OP would come back and clarify.

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